On the extrinsic piezoelectricity

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical model for the extrinsic piezoelectric response in ferroelectric materials, focusing on domain wall contributions to piezoelectric coefficients, exemplified by calculations on RbH2PO4.

Contribution

It extends previous work by providing a detailed theory of extrinsic piezoelectricity, specifically for ferroelectrics that are also ferroelastics, with practical calculations for RbH2PO4.

Findings

Calculated extrinsic contribution to d_36 in RbH2PO4

Theoretical framework applicable to thin films

Enhanced understanding of domain wall effects on piezoelectricity

Abstract

This work presents a continuation of our last paper, concerning the theory of the response of an antiparallel domain structure in a plate-like electroded sample to external electric field. The theory is based on the exact formula for free energy of the system, formed of a central ferroelectric part, isolated from electrodes (with a defined potential difference) by a surface layers. Our calculations are applicable also to thin films. It is usual to use the term `extrinsic' for the contribution of domain walls displacement to macroscopic properties of a sample. In our last paper we discussed the extrinsic contribution to permittivity. In this work we concentrate on extrinsic contribution to piezoelectric coefficients in ferroelectrics which are simultaneously ferroelastics. As an example, we calculate the extrinsic contribution to d_36 piezoelectric coefficient of RbH2PO4, that was recently measured in a wide range of temperature below Curie point.